Propeller.



No. 818,125. PATENTED APR. l?, 1906.

R. W. SHAW PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED Novo., 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 818,125. PATENTBD APR. 17, 1906.

R. W. SHAW.

PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'witmawo No. 818,125. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. R. W. SHAW.

PROPBLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9,1904.

3 SHEETS--SEBET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

ROBERT WILLIAM SHAV, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR TO TI-IE SHAW PROPULSION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

To @ZZ whom] it 711,601/ concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WILLIAM SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers; and I do 'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to propellers adapted for all the various kinds of floating craft; and my invention consists of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the propellerblades commonly designated a screw, all of which will be hereinafter clearly pointed out in detail, the main object of my invention being to provide apropeller adapted for all manner of purposes for which such an appliance is useful and which will lay hold upon the water in such a manner that a maximum amount of force will be transmitted to the vessel carrying my propeller, thereby insuring that the vessel will receive a greater thrust or push through the water with the use of a minimum amount of power and also with the use of a limited area of blade-surface.

A further object of my invention, among others, is to provide a propeller which may not only be made with a comparatively limited area of blade-surface, but which may be rotated or driven in either direction, thereby enabling the same propellingblade to be employed for driving a vessel ahead or astern, as may be desired, the force of the blade being in each instance identically the same without increasing the resistance in the slightest degree by such reversal of movement.

Other objects and advantages will be set forth in the specification hereinafter written and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my propeller complete ready for use. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation thereof when the propeller is substantially in the same position shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 on line 3 3. Fig. 4 is a top plan view when the propeller occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central sectionof my propeller as taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

to the various parts of my propeller-by designating numerals, it being understood that each numeral refers to a corresponding part throughout the views, and, referring to the numerals on the drawings, l indicates the propeller-shaft of the usual or any preferred construction, to which my propeller is ate tached in any desired manner, preferably by means of suitable keys 2 and by complementary set screws 8, the said keys and setscrews being arranged oppositely to each other, though it is obvious that other form of securing device may be employed, if found desirable.

It will be observed by a study of the drawings that my propeller is what may be termed a double compound-that is to say, each half of the propeller when divided transversely of its axial length is identical with the other half, the inner end of each half gracefully merging into the contiguous end of the other half.

My invention may therefore be said to consist of two spirallydisposed though peculiarly-shaped blades running in their tortuous course substantially in parallel. It will be understood that the two halves of my propeller are formed integral with each other and are continuous throughout; but I have referred to the two parts merely as a matter of convenience in the description.

Calling attention to Figs. l and 4, it will be seen that the flange 4 is identically the same in character as the flange 5, said flanges being joined together by the transversely-disposed part of the flange designated by the numeral 6 in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. That section of the iange designated by the numeral 6 is practically transversely disposed relative to the axial plane of my propeller, the object in this disposition being for the purpose hereinafterk more clearly set forth.

The flanges A and 5 respectively merge into and are an integral part of an uninterrupted spiral blade portion 7; but itwill be further IOO into each other, it follows that when the propeller is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 the flanges 4 of the propeller will, in connection with the blade portions 7, insure that a firm grasp will be taken upon the Water and, furthermore, that the flanges 5 and the adjoining portion of the blade 7 will be left wholly idle and when rotated will meet with but a minimum resistance in the water, and their effect will therefore be nil so far as propulsion of the vessel is concerned or the nullification of the force exerted by the portions 4 and 7, though it is :further obvious that when the propeller is rotated in the opposite direction the flange 5 and blade portions 7 exert their full maximum force and the portion 4 becomes absolutely nulliiied and without force and effect.

My propeller may be freely 1 rotated in either direction and will drive the boat forwardly or rearwardly, as the case may be. I

have therefore provided what will be, in effect, a compound propeller, there being two complete propellers formed in one section or piece, the two distinct propellers being equivalent to the two halves of the propeller shown, inasmuch as but one half is always in commission or service, while the other half is practically eliminated so far as its resisting or counterforce is concerned.

It will be understood that for convenience of manufacture or as a means for holding the portions 4, 5, and 7 in proper relative position I also provide the substantially tubular member 9, which is designed to receive the propeller-shaft l and thereby enable my propeller to be attached in position upon the end of said shaft as it protrudes through a stuffingvbox, as is common with propelling appliances.

By reference to Fig.` 5, which, as before explained, is a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, it will be observed that the blade portions 7 ofthe two iianges before described gradually lead or merge into each other, the line of merger in this instance being designated by the numeral 10, which is that part of the blade portion 7 immediately between the tubular member 9 and the middle portion of the transverse line 6. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

My invention therefore consists in so forming the opposite ends of the propeller that one end only acts upon the water, gathering a portion thereof unto itself and delivering it longitudinally and substantially parallel with the plane of the member 9 Without in any wise producing a counter resistance upon the blade portion on the opposite end of the propeller, it being obvious that the blade portion in advance performs the work of propulsion, while the blade portion following traverse the lines of least resistance, and thereby cause no disturbance of or frictional engagement upon the water surrounding the same.

fore equally efficient when driven positively or reversely, thereby obviating the necessity ofvspecial screws or blades for reversing the vessel and another set for driving the vessel forward.

I desire to comprehend in this application all substantial equivalents and substitutes falling Within the scope of my invention, inasmuch as reasonable departure may be made in the disposition of the curvatures or location of the blade portion without impairing the efiiciency thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described compound propeller comprising a central portion 9, blade portions 7 spirally disposed on said central portion and arranged diametrically opposite each other, terminal flanges 4 and 5 designed to cooperate with the blade portions 7, said flanges 4 and 5 being relatively cupped in respect to the inner portions 7 or disposed in a substantially curved lateral plane relative to the plane of said inner portions, the opposite ends of the complete propeller being substantially the same in formation and curvature though oppositely arranged, whereby the flanges 4 and 5 will have a grasping power upon the water and the propeller may be driven oppositely or reversely without causing the blade portions following the other to offer resistance thus enabling the propeller to drive a vessel in either direction.

2. A propeller having two diametrically opposite blade portions 7 throughout its length, each half of the propeller being similarin contour and area to the other half, the blade portion of each half having an inner diametrically-extended portion and also having an outer curved flange disposed at an angle to the inner portion of the blade, the flanges of each half of the propeller being a duplication of the flanges of the other half excepting that they are oppositely disposed whereby the complete propeller may be rotated in either direction, disposing but one half of the propeller in operation while the other half moves through the water without engaging it.

3. The herein-described propeller having a body portion or member 9, a pair of spirally-disposed blades on said member, one half of the blades being disposed directly opposite to the other half while the inner portions of the blades extend directly outward IOO IIO

By clipping or curving the flanges relative l from the body portion and are provided with 13o curved flanges to engage and act upon the water whereby the latter Will be held against a lateral thrust and move longitudinally with the propeller, the forward half of the propeller accomplishing the work of propulsion while the other half rotates without friction or strain upon the water.

4. The herein-described propeller having a pair of spiral blades arranged diametrically opposite each other, said blades being so disn posed in relation to each other that but one half of each of the blades will act upon the water to propel a vessel when the propeller is rotated.

5. The herein-described propeller having blades throughout its length, said blades having curved flanges and being spirally disposed with substantially one half thereof (measured longitudinally) in an intersecting spiral plane relative to the body portion of the propeller wherebybut one of said halves will act upon the water to propel a vessel when the propeller is positively driven, and the other half will act upon the water to propel a vessel when reversely driven.

6. A reversible propeller comprising a shaft and a plurality of blades arranged spishaft and a plurality of blades arranged spirally around said shaft, each of said blades consisting of two end portions extending to the center of the propeller and merging at the center of said propeller into a connecting portion having its outer edge substantially transversely arranged to the adjacent edges of said end portions, those portions of the end portions adjacent the shaft being at an angle to the remaining portions of said end portions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT WILLIAM SHAW.

Witnesses A. G. MILLER, PERRY H. PATTIsoN 

